Driven by rising home prices, more than 60% of home shoppers across the 100 largest U.S. metros searched for properties outside their local markets this spring, according to a August 25 report from the Realtor.com economic research team. This represents an increase from approximately 48% in 2019, as housing affordability increasingly dictates whether buyers remain in their local markets or move elsewhere.
Regionally, the West saw the highest amount of outbound home shopping traffic in the second quarter of 2026, with traffic exceeding 65%. The South followed at 59.8%, the Northeast at 58.3%, and the Midwest at 56.1%. In every U.S. region, more than half of home shopping traffic was directed toward listings located outside the local market.
In San Jose, California, the most expensive major housing market in the country, over 94% of shoppers searched for listings outside the metro during the second quarter. San Jose's median asking price exceeded $1.39 million in spring 2026, which is 225.5% above the national average. While San Francisco is also expensive, with median prices 133% above the national average, it remains 28% less expensive than San Jose. San Jose was the primary source of inbound traffic to San Francisco in the second quarter, accounting for roughly 40% of out-of-market views.
Affordability issues are also impacting previously budget-friendly metros. By spring 2026, Salt Lake City, Denver, and Durham, North Carolina, began producing their own cohorts of priced-out locals. In each of these three metros, over 70% of shoppers searched for out-of-market homes in the second quarter, looking for neighboring areas where prices are 5% to 15% lower.
In Salt Lake City, shoppers perused listings in Ogden, Utah. In Denver, the top destination was Colorado Springs, Colorado, while Durham house hunters looked at properties in Raleigh, North Carolina.
While price is a major factor, employment opportunities also influence migration patterns. For example, Birmingham, Alabama, saw 72% of its out-of-market traffic targeting Nashville, Tennessee, despite Nashville having a median asking price 80% higher than Birmingham. Realtor.com senior economist Jiayi Xu noted that Nashville's stronger job market and lack of state income tax drew these buyers.
However, economic uncertainty has also caused some buyers to hesitate. Victor Currie, a real estate agent at Douglas Elliman Real Estate in Los Angeles, stated that many prospective local buyers are holding off on transactions due to fear of committing to a purchase or selling and losing pandemic-era interest rates.
